Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Boko Haram insurgents have attacked a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State capital and killed no fewer than five people nearby. At least seven people were also injured.

Residents said some insurgents came to a mosque at Agwar Baba Ali, Jiddari-Polo area of Maiduguri at about 5:30am on Saturday while Muslim faithful were observing their early morning prayers.

“They came in Keke NAPEP (tricycle) and started firing into the mosque. I was rushing to the mosque that time when I saw them firing, I ran back to my house,” an eyewitness who identified himself as Abdullahi Lawal told Sunday Sun at the scene. His account was corroborated by Abubakar Usman, a Civilian JTF in the area. He said the insurgents drove the tricycle from the city. “I don’t think they came from the bush. The Keke NAPEP drove from the town,” he said.

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A survivor of the attack, Kaka Ngala revealed that he was in the mosque with about 40 other worshippers when Boko Haram came. “They started firing but a boy was so bold that he went to close all the gates leading to the mosque. We had just started praying When Boko Haram came,” he said even as he thanked God the insurgents couldn’t access the mosque in time.

After failed attempts to enter the mosques, the insurgents started firing at nearby houses and residents coming to the mosque. Residents said five corpses were evacuated from the area hours after the attack. The victims, according to them included three men and two women.

A female suicide bomber also detonated explosives in front of a house at Jiddamari Bulama Bukar area, some 500 metres to the mosque, killing the lone bomber. Residents of the house told Sunday Sun the bomber attempted to force her way into the house but was prevented by the maiguard (security man) who locked the gate and refused persistent appeals by the bomber to enter the house. “The bomber thereafter detonated the explosives strapped to her body,” the owner of the house said preferring anonymity.

Residents also claimed a Boko Haram suspect was arrested by the military troops shortly after the attack even as they lauded the military response to the incident. Neither the military nor police have commented on the attack as at press time but an official of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) who did not identify himself because he was not authorised to speak, put the casualty figure at four aside the two Boko Haram insugents that died.